Charges Filed Against Former Detroit Police Sergeant
Michigan officials recently announced serious accusations against a former Detroit police sergeant who allegedly lived a “double life” as a serial rapist.
Benjamin Wagner, 68, is facing 14 charges in total, which include eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and five counts of kidnapping. These charges are related to supposed assaults on five women and girls, whose ages spanned from 15 to 23, occurring between 1999 and 2003.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy remarked, “It’s unfortunate that the individual we are prosecuting today was simultaneously serving as a law enforcement officer while engaging in these criminal acts. This case is the result of a lengthy process aimed at achieving justice, and the details are extremely troubling.”
The alleged incidents reportedly took place in the early morning hours in northwest Detroit, where the victims were approached while heading to school, returning from work, or visiting friends.
According to Worthy, the victims were reportedly held at gunpoint, taken to secluded areas, and sexually assaulted without protection.
Although these assaults happened several miles away from Wagner’s residence, authorities clarified that his home was not the location where the assaults took place.
Wagner, who served with the Detroit Police Department from 1989 until his retirement in 2017, worked in various roles within the department, including Criminal Investigation and Tactical Services.
The investigation into Wagner is said to have gained momentum due to the discovery in 2009 of over 11,000 untested sexual assault kits found in a police warehouse.
Earlier this month, Wagner was apprehended in Greenville, North Carolina, where he had been living since his retirement. He has agreed to return to Michigan to face the charges.
It’s important to note that the statute of limitations in Michigan for these types of crimes is only six years, which means there won’t be any possibility of pursuing weapons charges linked to these alleged incidents.
Worthy highlighted that the five victims reported their assaults immediately after they occurred, and their sexual assault kits had been collected at that time.
Authorities are encouraging any additional individuals who might have been victimized by Wagner to come forward and contact the Detroit Police Department’s sex crimes unit, as their incidents may not have been reported. Worthy did not disclose whether Wagner ever had direct contact with any of the victims during his career or if he faced any internal affairs investigations or criminal charges while serving as an officer.
